The leader of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party Nikos Michaloliakos, alongside party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris and three other parliamentarians were arrested by counter-terrorism police earlier today, and have been formally charged with membership of a criminal organisation.

Nikos Michos and Ilias Panayiotaros gave themselves up voluntarily, according to the Associated Press.

A further 15 people, including 13 Golden Dawn members and two police officers, have also been arrested and are due to appear before a prosecutor and an examining magistrate soon. They face the same charges.

The leader and members of Golden Dawn were arrested on charges of founding a criminal organisation. They are due to appear in court this weekend to be charged formally.

The government had begun a legal investigation into the party for links with the killing of an anti-fascist rapper by a self-proclaimed Golden Dawn supporter and other incidents on whether they could be considered criminal.